Jay-Z to headline BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend

Hip hop legend and music mogul Jay Z is set to headline BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend on Saturday June 23, Music Week has reported. The news was announced on the BBC Radio 1 show with Chris Moyles Breakfast Show this morning (9th March)

Jay Z, one of rap music’s most influential artists and mentors is set to perform alongside a line-up of acts already announced including Tinie Tempah, Jessie J, The Maccabees, Florence + the Machine, Professor Green, Leona Lewis, DJ Fresh, Plan B, Flo Rida and Will.i.am. In the coming weeks, another international superstar will be announced to headline the event on Sunday June 24th.

The event is part of the London 2012 Festival and will be held in East London’s Hackney Marshes over two days. The BBC Radio 1 festival will feature over 100 UK and international performers across six stages including the BBC Radio 1 Main Stage, Radio 1Xtra Stage, Dance Stage, In New Music We Trust Stage and the BBC Introducing Stage. Tickets are free, but there will be a small fee of £2.50 per ticket to cover ticket handling and administration costs. Last year over 800,000 people applied for them at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Carlisle and demand is expected to be massive again this year.

To avoid disappointment, be sure to register before March 19th to be eligible to apply for a ticket on Sunday March 25th and Monday March 26th as these are the two opportunitie. The majority of tickets will be reserved for those from Hackney and the other five Olympic boroughs, with allocation on a first-come, first-served basis. Jason Carter, Event Director for Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend said: "Our goal was to deliver the most ambitious and exciting event in Radio 1’s history and with the artists already announced I think we’ve achieved that, but to now add the world’s biggest hip hop icon, Jay-Z to the line-up, is fantastic news!"

Other acts confirmed for the live event include:

Andy C, Azealia Banks, Bombay Bicycle Club, Boy Better Know Feat Skepta & JME, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Chip, Dappy, David Guetta, D’banj, Deadmau5, Devlin, DJ Fresh, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Eric Prydz, Flo Rida, Flux Pavilion & Doctor P, Florence & the Machine , Jack White, Jay-Z, Jessie J, Labrinth, Lana Del Rey, Leona Lewis, Magnetic Man, Maverick Sabre, Michael Kiwanuka, Mindless Behaviour, Nero, Plan B, Professor Green, Rizzle Kicks, Sean Paul, Sub Focus, Swedish House Mafia, Taio Cruz, The Maccabees, The Ting Tings, Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Will.i.am, Wretch 32.